crafts & knitting

catching up

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

It was the half term school break here last week, so I had a week away from the computer and instead spent all of my time keeping Toby busy or driving Amy around the county. Overall it was a good week with lots of walks in the woods, a few visits to the park and plenty of bubble baths and tickle play. We even had a burst of sunshine at the beginning of the week that did me the power of good and the plum tree responded too with more blossoming. Now though we’re back to cold, grey dull days and both the plum tree and I feel on hold again. I hope spring makes a proper appearance soon, I feel rather winter weary.

It always takes me a few days to begin adjusting to changes in routine so I’m not yet into my term-time mode but spending yesterday knitting did help enormously!

 

Legs

I have a big batch of animals that I’m working on and hopefully in the
next week I’ll be putting the finishing touches to them in time for
Easter (I’ll send emails out to the mailing list once they’re all
ready).

 

Foreaster

Along with knitting this week, there is a big backlog of emails waiting for me to answer and I have no
idea what is going on with all of my favourite blogs but I look forward
to catching up with everyone’s news soon.

I’m also looking forward to reading all about the Red Nose Day Dolls project which is being mentioned in several magazines (including Handmade Living, issue 22, April 2013). There are loads of new things that have been finished for the dolls in the last week and you can read all about some of them on the Red Nose Day Dolls blog, including my post about the things that I’ve made for them.

Well, that’s all of the news from my end for now, apart from the good news that on our wood walks last week Toby took to wearing one less hood and a lot more smiles.

 

Tobysmile

64 thoughts on “catching up”

  3. Fab photos….so good to see your happy boy.
    You should have a competition to guess which head will end up on which body 🙂 You are so very talented….I love them all.
    Hugs,
    A x

    Like

    Reply

  16. Love that first photo, it reminds me of Wallace and Gromits wrong trousers 🙂 aahh toby looks very happy indeed with one less hood over her head 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  17. Oh that’s a lovely photo of Toby smiling! Your animals look fabulous – even in pieces! I love Annie’s suggestion that you should have a competition to match heads to bodies! Hope you have a good week. Lucy xx

    Like

    Reply

  19. hi, sounds as if you had a great week….although Im sure its nice to have time for yourself….I know I welcomed the start of term when my son was wee, alison

    Like

    Reply

  21. Toby’s smile is enough to make the sun shine! It does feel like a long winter, perhaps the amount of rain last year dampened all our spirits. Roll on spring. Xxx

    Like

    Reply

  22. Hi Julie, what great news that Toby has shed a hood. Hopefully the arrival of spring will mean another hood goes and his head is bobbing along in the sunshine . Adore the photos of baskets of lovelyness. xxBrenda

    Like

    Reply

  24. Hello Julie :o)
    What a very beautiful photo of Toby, such a happy face x
    What are you doing to me? the clothes line thing you do gets me all of a flutter ….. IT IS JUST SO CUTE!
    I am struggling through February too and am SO ready for spring to arrive, i have decided to start my spring cleaning tomorrow maybe that will coax spring out.
    love jooles xxx

    Like

    Reply

  25. Winter weary is right! When I told The Natives that it is supposed to snow again this week they all groaned and said, “Uggh”! I have seen however, some little green shoots coming up in my flower beds which are tulips and hyacinths. Always encouraging when I see those signs that yes, winter is going to end. I don’t know why I want it to end. When it is summer I complain of the yard work I can’t seem to keep up with and wish it was winter! When my hair is short I wish it were long and when it is long I wish it were short. I think I’m just a finicky can’t be satisfied person. Hmmmm. Need to work on that I suppose………..
    Your little animals…….. I’m excited to see them come together. I know which one caught me eye!! Well, which legs caught my eye 🙂 and I think I found the matching head to go with. We’ll see if I guess correctly.
    You should see my back yard right now. The chickens have had full run of it all winter and they have made the biggest mess! Wood chips kicked all over the place and out of the flower beds. The stone walkway that Brian put down between my gardens in the fall are all covered in chicken poo and dirt and everything else they’ve scratched about. Maybe it should stay winter longer….. the thought of cleaning that all up. UGH! 🙂 I’d rather take a walk in the woods like Toby.

    Like

    Reply

  26. I think Toby is rather brave, shedding a hood in such cold weather! I was out doing clandestine planting in a local wood this morning and it was bitter….I was so glad to get home into the warm. Your photos made me smile. I can’t wait to see how all those bodies and heads will go together. ❤

    Like

    Reply

  27. I always love seeing your critters in stages. The critter bodies and legs hanging from the line are so cute!
    So glad to see Toby all smiley. There’s nothing like a walk in the woods to get some fresh air, relax, and smile!

    Like

    Reply

  28. Hi julie, it so nice to see a smile on tobys face its that smile when it appears makes it all worth it. Your animals look so adorable can’t wait to see them finished. Have a wonderful day take care of you.

    Like

    Reply

  29. How lovely to see a smiley Toby – bet that makes for a smiley Julie too! I do like seeing your baskets full of animal bits but the washing line full is mildly disturbing! Looking forward to catching up and maybe seeing some creatures in person …?

    Like

    Reply

  34. The pictures of your creatures in the making never fail to amaze me but there is joy in the photo of Toby looking the most happy and relaxed ever – all down to you. ♥

    Like

    Reply

  44. SO delighted to have come across your blog……it is immediately one of my very favourites. I would desperately love to buy the patterns to knit some of those animals…..they are just totally and utterly scrumptious and divine…….makes me dizzy looking at them. Exquisitely gorgeous!! What an amazing woman to be such inspiration to others. Bless you and your beautiful boy xx

    Like

    Reply

  52. Love the “Line of legs!!” Welcome back Julie…lovely to see such a huge smile on Toby’s face, especially as it was caused by a muddy puddle! Snowdrops and tiny daffodils and crocus in our freezing garden is lifting the winter weariness a little here..but I will be soooo glad to see the Spring too! Jenni xx

    Like

    Reply

  53. Glad to hear half term went well – bodes well for the Easter hols which are fast approaching!
    Your line of body parts tickled me – it’s interesting how you go about constructing your bunnies, separate collections of body parts to be assembled later. I’d be doing one at a time.
    Bought my copy of Handmade Living yesterday (terrific mag!) and saw your mention – well done!

    Like

    Reply

  61. The stripes are SOOO cute!! What brand and color name are they?
    Also, I agree with all comments especially Michelle Brubacher… I’m so glad to have found your blog. I’ve told friends I want to have your garden and time to knit/crochet. So, I’m starting a garden this year. You’ve inspired me. Maybe chickens in the future…we’ll see. XX

    Like

    Reply

  63. OMG!! Those are the cutest “critters” of any kind I have every seen! How can I get one or two or three???
    They are so adorable.

    Like

    Reply

Please leave your comments